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Chelsea moved nine points clear at the top of the Premier League as they extended their winning run to 11 games with a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace.
Diego Costa scored the only goal of the game, heading home Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross in the 44th minute to score his 13th league goal of the season.
The visitors, who will be without both Costa and N’Golo Kante for the Boxing Day fixture against Bournemouth after the pair picked up yellow cards, pushed for a second with substitute Cesc Fabregas and Marcos Alonso both being denied by Wayne Hennessey saves.
Alonso then struck the crossbar with a free-kick in the 84th minute but the wasted chances did not prove costly as Antonio Conte’s side held on for a third straight 1-0 win to extend their lead at the top, and equal a club-record run of successive wins.
The closest the visitors came to extending their advantage was in the 83rd minute when Damien Delaney fouled Hazard on the edge of the area. Alonso stepped up and curled a free-kick against the underside of the crossbar.
A second goal was not forthcoming but it was never truly needed. The home fans were buoyed by five minutes of added time but Chelsea held on for victory as they head into Christmas with a healthy lead at the top.
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